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QMP 100: Roadmap

A guide to basic information resources to help Roadmap students.

S.I.F.T. = Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace

Evaluating sources from the internet (social media posts, news stories, blogs, videos) requires looking outside the source itself to determine whether it's credible.

The SIFT method shows you how to use the internet as a tool to quickly and effectively determine whether a source is reliable.

SIFT: Stop, Investigate the Source, Find Trusted Coverage, and Trace to the Original

S.I.F.T.-- Fact Checking Like a Pro

STOP

Do you know the website or source of information? Check your bearings and consider your purpose. 

INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE

Know the expertise and agenda of your source. Look up your source in Wikipedia. Consider what other sites say about your source. Open multiple tabs and explore. 

FIND TRUSTED COVERAGE

Look for the best information on a topic, or scan multiple sources to find out what the consensus is. Use Ctrl + F to find specific words. 

TRACE TO THE ORIGINAL

Find the original source to see the context, so you can decide if the version you have is accurately presented. 

Are your sources credible?

Evaluating My Sources with CRAAP

Currency: The Timeliness of the Information

  • When was the information published or posted? 
  • Has the information been revised or updated? 
  • Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic? 
  • Are the links functional?

Relevance: The Importance of the Information for Your Needs

  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? 
  • Who is the intended audience? 
  • Is the information at an appropriate level? 
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before choosing this one? 
  • Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?

Authority: The Source of the Information

  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  • Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
  • What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address? 
  • Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?

Accuracy: The Reliability, Truthfulness, and Correctness of the Content

  • Where does the information come from? 
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source?
  • Does the language or tone seem biased or free of emotion?

Purpose: The Reason the Information Exists

  • What is the purpose of the information? 
  • Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? 
  • Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Adapted from the CRAP test, created by Librarian Molly Beestrum at Dominican University.